Blue Crabs Fall to Long Island Ducks

After combining for 29 hits a night ago, the Blue Crabs and the Ducks combine for 28 hits tonight. Even with their 14 hits though, the Blue Crabs fall to the Long Island Ducks by the final of 10-9.

Long Island struck first scoring a run in the bottom of the first on a Lew Ford single to score Bryan Sabatella. In the top of the second, the Blue Crabs scored five runs. With runners at first and third, Casey Stevenson singled to right to score Jake Opitz. After an Antone DeJesus walk to load the bases, Fred Lewis doubled to left field to clear the bases scoring Rosa, Stevenson, and DeJesus. After Fred Lewis stole third base, Fred would score on an RBI groundout by Renny Osuna to make it 5-1.

The Ducks would answer in the bottom of the third. Lew Ford would single in Delta Cleary Jr., and Randy Ruiz would follow with a double to score Lew Ford to make it a 5-3 game. After answering with a run in the top of the fourth, the Blue Crabs would score three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Casey Stevenson led things off with a single, followed by a Jamar Walton double to put runners at second and third. Fred Lewis then doubled to score both Stevenson, and Walton. Fred Lewis would then score on a Renny Osuna single to make it 9-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Ducks came storming back. Fernando Nieve came on to pitch, and gave up a double to Delta Cleary Jr. Lew Ford then walked, followed by a Randy Ruiz single to score Cleary Jr. Cody Puckett then singled to score Ford, and two batters later Reegie Corona advanced to first on an error by the first baseman Daryle Ward to load the bases. Mike Blanke then singled to score Ruiz, followed by a Bryan Sabatella double to left field to score Puckett, and Corona. Justin Berg was called from the bullpen by Manager Stan Cliburn to relieve Fernando Nieve, but Long Island kept the offense going, as Delta Cleary Jr. singled to center to score Sabatella, and Blanke to make it 10-9.

Southern Maryland was set down in the top of the ninth, going on to lose 10-9 and swept away four straight games by the Ducks. Fred Lewis and Casey Stevenson each had three hits, while Lewis drove in five runs on the evening. On the other side for Long Island, the first four hitters of Sabatella, Cleary Jr., Ford, and Ruiz went a combined 9-16 with eight RBIs, and seven runs scored.

The Blue Crabs return home for a four game set tomorrow night as they take on the Camden Riversharks. RHP Jake Hale (5-2, 2.21) will throw for Southern Maryland, while LHP Bill Murphy (1-5, 7.10) will toss for Camden. The first pitch is set for 7:05 at Regency Furniture Stadium.